Dubai: A Washington-based lawyer for a US permanent resident imprisoned in Iran has described him as a "hostage".
Jason Poblete said in a statement on Thursday that Iranian allegations which Nizar Zakka confessed to authorities are "completely false."
A semi-official Iranian news agency on Wednesday published remarks from a Revolutionary Guard commander saying Zakka confessed to trying to "encourage decadence" in Iranian society.
Poblete demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Zakka, a Lebanese computer expert whose organization previously did contract work for the US government, and all other Westerners held by Iran.
Zakka was detained in September 2015 after speaking at a conference attended by President Hassan Rouhani at the Iranian government's invitation.
Zakka is serving a 10-year prison sentence and faces a $4.2 million fine after a closed-door trial.
